Eli Lilly has launched a new formulation of its blockbuster weight loss drug Zepbound—a single injection pen that provides a full month's supply. Self-paying patients can purchase the multi-dose device, called KwikPen, through the company's direct website LillyDirect, with the monthly cost starting at $299 for the lowest dosage tier.
The injection pen offers a more convenient option for patients, reducing the number of devices needed for monthly treatment to just one pen capable of delivering four weeks of doses. Currently, patients undergoing treatment must use different single-dose auto-injectors each week. Eli Lilly also provides single-dose vials of Zepbound, which require users to draw the medication into a syringe for self-injection.
This move comes as Eli Lilly aims to solidify Zepbound's early success, with demand surging since the drug's launch in late 2023. The LillyDirect platform plays a critical role in Zepbound's market expansion, and the introduction of the new formulation is expected to attract more patients. Zepbound's robust growth has already helped Eli Lilly capture a majority share of the weight loss drug market from competitor Novo Nordisk. In the fourth quarter, the drug generated $4.2 billion in U.S. sales, a 122% increase year-over-year.
Eli Lilly stated in its announcement that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a label expansion for Zepbound to include the multi-dose injection device. The KwikPen has previously been used for other Eli Lilly medications, such as the popular diabetes drug Mounjaro.
Ilya Yuffa, President of Eli Lilly USA and Global Customer Capabilities, said in a statement: "As part of our commitment to supporting individuals on their weight management journey, we are introducing the Zepbound KwikPen—a trusted device already familiar to patients globally and in the U.S. through its use with other Lilly medicines."